Feed rate control device of cigarette packaging machine

ABSTRACT

This control device is associated with a cigarette packaging machine comprising a main supply hopper subdivided into a plurality of channels at its lower portion for delivering cigarettes at dispensing stations and carried by a conveyor of the intermittent motion type; the device comprises several feelers electrically connected in parallel, adapted to register with and engage said channels; relay means responsive to said feelers for controlling the energizing circuit of other relay means controlling in turn the electric motor driving the packaging machine, said feelers are disposed at a higher level than planes of said dispensing stations where the layers of cigarettes are delivered to said* containers, said level corresponding to a height of five to seven times that of a single layer.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 United States Patent [191 Seragnoli FEED RATE CONTROLDEVICE OF CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINE Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGeheeAttorney-Otto John Munz [75] Inventor:

Ariosto Seragnoli, Bologna, Italy Assignee: G. D. Societa in AccomanditeSemplice, Bologna, Italy [22]. Filed: Oct. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:189,355

Related Appncafion Data divided into a plurality of channels at itslower portion -in-part of Ser. No. 721,525, April 15, 1968, Pat. No.3,628,309.

for delivering cigarettes at dispensing stations and car- [63]Continuation ried by a conveyor of the intermittent motion type; thedevice comprises several feelers electrically connected in parallel,adapted to register with and engage said channels; relay meansresponsive to said feelers for controlling the energizing circuit ofother relay means [51] Int.

controlling in turn the electric motor driving the packaging machine,said feelers are disposed at a higher 0 U 6 8 7 33 55 4 5 l 3 5 h c r ae S f 0 d l e i F 8 5 I.

level than planes of said dispensing stations where the layers ofcigarettes are delivered to said* containers,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS said level corresponding to aheight of five to seven times that of a single layer.

3,520,394 Seragnoli.......................... 53/151 X 2,922,519 H1960Radley................................ 53/53 X 3 Claims, 2 DrawingFigures PATENTEURUV 13 I975 SHEET 18F 2 INVENTOR ARIOSTO SERAGNOLI BY W4TTORNEY Pmmmmw 13 975 3,771, 279

SHEET 2 CF 2 INVENTOR ARIOSTO SERAGNOLI FEED RATE CONTROL DEVICE OFCIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINE This is a Continuation-ln-Part applicationof U.S. Ser. No. 721,525 of the same inventor, issued on Dec. 21, 1971as U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,309. 7

The prior art is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,394, issued July 14,1970 to the same inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general tocigarette packaging machines and has specific reference to controldevices of the type applicable to machines designed for preparing abundle of a predetermined number of cigarettes through successive andknown steps, these machines forming firstly complete bundles ready forthe packaging operation proper according to a predetermined numbr oflayers comprising each a predetermined number of cigarettes, the bundlesthus formed being subsequently packaged automatically. Moreparticularly, this control device of cigarette packaging machinescomprises a combination of means whereby the steadiness of the feed flowto the means dispensing the cigarette layers to be subsequentlytranformed into complete bundles is controlled cyclically.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART These parent U.S. Pat. applicationsdisclose a cigarette feed hopper of a depth or width corresponding tothe length of the cigarettes to be handled; this hopper has its lowerportion divided into a number of elementary or subhoppers correspondingin number to the number of cigarette layers of a complete batch to bepackaged; each sub-hopper is provided with a plurality of partitionsextending vertically downwards so as to form there between passages orchannels equal in number to the number of cigarettes of thecorresponding layer of a bath and having substantially the size of acigarette diameter.

In accordance with the prior art the partitions are limited in thedownward direction in order to preserve a certain gap between theirlower ends and the bottom of the elementary hoppers.

The bottom of these hoppers functions as a dispensing outlet for layersof cigarettes disposed side by side and fed in succession by a pushmember, and subsequently superimposed in compartments of an endlessconveyor operating intermittently.

With this arrangement the bundles of cigarettes resulting from thesuperimposition of the layers, are'either incomplete or objectionablebecause they contain defective cigarettes, having a tobacco densitybelow the requisite standard. In order to reject these defective groupsand to remove them from the production line, in the prior art provides,also, along the path of the endless conveyor, means such as microfeedcontrols, in which twin beams of nucle-onic particles compare thedensity of the cigarettes of a complete group and signal the presence ofincomplete groups or groups containing defective cigarettes to a memorydevice; means responsive to the signals of the memory device to removethese groups from the production line and simultaneously discontinue thesupply of the various package materials (such as paper wrap, foil, labeland cellophane) which would have been allocated to the eliminatedgroups.

In cigarette packaging machines of the high production rate type, suchas described in the US Pat. application No. 721,525 this process (of thedetection and elimination of the defective groups, of the actuation ofmeans'for feeding packaging materials, and eventually of the resumptionof normal operative conditions) is accomplished in a fully automaticfashion.

However, when the normal operation is to be resumed, by re-starting themeans for supplying the packaging materials after the temporary delaydue to gaps in the production line caused by the removal of defectivegroups because of the high production rate.

A shift to normal between the product to be packaged and the packagingmaterials must be reinstated and for this subsequent checking means mustbe provided along the packaging line.

In order to avoid these inconveniences, the Applicant provided means foroperating the high production rate cigarette packaging machine atdifferent speeds to attain the rated or maximum speed by passing firstlythrough a at a low speed which is lower than the maximum or rated speed.

Such a machine at a rate dependingsubstantially on the possibilities ofrated-speed variation of the machine proper. The alternation ofdefective groups with sound and complete groups of cigarettes in thecompartments of the endless conveyor permits the machine to' operatecontinuously but in staccato jerks, which is uneconomical andinadequate.

Applicant discovered that the incompleteness of the groups or bundles ofcigarettes frequently is caused in the step preceding the delivery ofthe cigarette layers to the compartments, and that, as the flow ofcigarettes descending through the main hopper is subdivided intosecondary supply flows directed to the elementary hoppers,discontinuities arise because clogging caused by the throttled inletpassage of the elementary hoppers, and that discontinuities also takeplace along the channels formed by the elementary hoppers, due to thepresence therein of defective cigarettes and/or tobacco dust. I

This in accordance with this invention in this zone and moreparticularly the control of the supply flow upstream of the feed ordispensing zone was provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary object of thepresent invention to provide in a high speed cigarette packagingmachine, means capable of assuring the continuity, at the dispensingstations, of the cigarette layers by controlling the steadiness of flowof the cigarettes themselves across the elementary hoppers. This andother objects are carriedout with the device according to the presentinvention by controlling the feed flow rate in cigarette packagingmachines of the type, comprising a feed hopper provided with a pluralityof series of channels delivering the cigarettes at dispensing stationsto compartments adapted to be stopped at these stations by anintermittent-motion conveyor. The device is provided with a plurality ofsensors electrically connected in parallel to one another andregistering with the channels, and on the other hand with electric relaymeans responsive to the sensors and adapted to control the circuitsupplying current to other servo-action relay means for energizing theelectric motor, which drives the cigarette packaging machine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a machine for theformation of orderly groups of cigarettes constituted of orderlysuperposed layers of cigarettes comprising means for dispensing thelayers of cigarettes; a plurality of individual stations for receivingthe respective layers; container means for receiving the groups ofcigarettes; a plurality of pusher means, each of said pusher means forpushing a layer of cigarettes at a time into the container means;conveyor means for intermittently displacing the container means in anoperative direction past the stations; each of said stations includesmeans defining a supporting surface for the cigarettes, the supportingsurfaces being arranged in consecutive order in the operative directionalong the conveyor means laterally offset thereto, the supportingsurfaces being arranged at different levels with respect to each otherincreasing in the consecutive order, the level difference between nextamong the supporting surfaces corresponding at least to the thickness ofa cigarette, and wherein the respective pusher means are arranged at alevel corresponding to the level of the supporting surfaces and adaptedto sweep the respective of the supporting surfaces to transfer the layerof cigarettes collected on the supporting surface onto a correspondingof the container means, the container means having open sides to receivesideways the respective layer of cigarettes transferred from therespective of the supporting surface, the container means having abottom arranged on the conveyor means at a level corresponding to thelowermost level of the supporting surfaces; motor means for operatingthe machine; a device positioned adjacent the conveyor means forcontrolling the rate of flow of the respective layers of cigarettesdispensed from the dispensing means to the respective stations, teedevice including a plurality of feeler members mounted substantiallyopposed to the respective pusher means, the feeler members beingelectrically connected in parallel to one another and registering withthe respective pusher means; and relay means responsive to the feelermembers and adapted to control energizing circuit means of the relaymeans for controlling the operation of the motor means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of thecontrol device of this invention will appear more clearly from thefollowing detailed description explained with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically a preferred form ofembodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective front view of the control device ofthis invention as used in a machine adapted to form groups of cigarettescomprising a plurality of separately superposed layers, and 7 FIG. 2 isa wiring diagram of the circuit controlling the complete cigarettepackaging machine with the control device according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, the machine forsuccessively forming groups of cigarettes comprisng a plurality ofsuperimposed layers of the type disclosed in the abovementioned US Pat.applications No. 721,525 and No. 72l 532, to which the control deviceaccording to the present invention is applied, is shown diagrammaticallyin thin lines as comprising the cigarette feed hopper and the device forconveying complete groups of cigarettes, the thick lines showing thecontrol device proper and the kinematic means driving the same as shownin heavy lines.

The cigarette feed hopper which, is of the type disclosed in the US Pat.application No. 721,532 has its lower portion divided into threeelementary or subhoppers 2A,2B and 2C having bottoms 3A,3B and 3C ofgradually decreasing thickness in a downward direction.

A pushing system 4 is adapted to transfer by means of heads 5a, 5B and5C respectively layers of cigarettes from the elementary hoppers 2A,2Band 2C into compartments or like containers 6 carried by the conveyorfor supplying complete groups of cigarettes to the packaging line.

At a common level with reference to the base plane B of hopper 1 andabove the delivery level of the three layers previously and properlyformed and consisting of seven, six and seven cigarettes respectively,in the specific example considered herein for packaging 20 cigarettesper package, there are arranged, in proper alignment to the threeelementary hoppers 2A, 2B and 2C, three sets of feelers or like sensors8A, 8B and 8C, respectively, consisting in the whole of 20 properlylocated feeling rods 9, i.e., one rod per cigarette, supported by a,horizontal flat bracket 10.

These feeler rods 9 are therefore disposed each coaxially with onecigarette contained in the elementary hoppers and are urged in theiroutermost position by easily compressible springs (not shown).

The feeler rods 9 are reciprocated bodily by the bracket 10 so as tofeel at each cycle, during each working stroke, the ends of thecigarettes disposed of a common level in each channel in the layers soas to signal the possible absence of one or more cigarettes, or theinsufficient filling thereof with tobacco, through electric contactmeans described and shown in detail on FIG. 2, each rod 9 beingconnected to a separate contact.

In accordance with this invention this control action is exerted on thecigarettes contained in the channels of the elementary hoppers to permitthe proper and reliable checking of the regularity of the cigarette flowdoes not take place as previously suggested at the level where thelayers of cigarettes are delivered to the containers 6, but at asomewhat higher level. The purpose hereof is to prevent layers, founddefective from being transferredinto the containers 6.

The reciprocating motion imparted to the feelers 9 is derived from thepower shaft 11, rotatably supported by the frame 12 and driven from themain machine. Keyed or otherwise secured to one end of the shaft 11 is acam 13 of the helical groove type; the cam groove is engaged by a roller14 mounted for free rotation to one end ofa two-armed lever 15 fulcrumedat 20 to the frame structure 12. At its opposite end the lever 15 ispivotably connected to a link 16, connected in turn to a rod 17 slidablymounted in the frame 12 and carrying at its end, protruding from theframe structure 12 the horizontal flat bracket 10 which supports thethree sets of the sensors.

The pivot pin 21 interconnecting the link 16 and rod 17 has a lateralextension provided with a free rotating roller 18 engaging an elongatedopening 19 in the frame as a guiding and stabilizing member for thekinematic assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates by way of example a wiring diagram of the circuit forcontrolling the high-speed cigarette packaging machine of the presentinvention. An electric motor 11 of the double polarity type, operatesthe packaging machine at two different speeds; two remote-controlledrelays or like switches TLl and TL2 control in turn the energization ofthe electric motor M; remotely controlled relays or switches R1, R2 andR3 are provided, Rl controlling the complete circuit and R2, and R3controlling the remote controlled realys TLl and TL2 respectively:finally, a time-lag device T1 with a capacitor C of suitable capacity,controls the said remote controlled relays TLl and TL2. Furthermore, thecircuit comprises a push-button starter switch P1 for starting themachine and stop pushbutton P2 for stopping the machine.

The contact T2 is the electrical equivalent of the feeler rods disclosedin the above mentioned U.S Pat. application No. 721,532. A cyclic cam Cladapted, during each cycle of operation of the machine, to close andre-open the switch T3 is connected in series to said contact T2.

A voltage transformer TF is connected to the main supply line forenergizing the electric motor M and the said remote-controlled relaysand time-lag relays.

For purposes of the present description, only the remote-controlledrelay R1 for presetting the circuit operation needs to be considered.This relay R1 comprises a first movable contact arm R1-2, through whichthe circuit for self-energizing the remote-controlled relay R1 isadapted to be closed, a second movable contact arm Rl-l constituting theactual presetting element of the circuit through which the energizingcircuit leading to the remote controlled relays for supplying current tomotor M is closed, and a pair of corresponding fixed contacts R1-4 andR1-3, respectively. The circuit further comprises, as showndiagrammatically at 8A, 8B and 8C, separate, parallel connected contactscorresponding to the three sets of rods 9.

A cyclic cam C2 adapted, upon each revolution of the machine, to theclose and open the contact T4 inserted in series in relation to said setof feelers 8A, 8B

and 8C shown in the form of parallel-connected contacts. Aremote-controlled relay R having its energizing contact adapted to beclosed through contact T4, the set of parallel-connected feelers 8A,8Band 8C, and the stop push-button P2; this relay R comprises a movablecontact arm R-l which, in the de-energizing condition of said relay R,is closed by a corresponding fixed contact R-2.

The mode of operation of the control device according to this invention,under normal conditions, is as follows:

When the feeler rods 9 of the three groups 8A,8B and 8C during theirengagement in the corresponding discharged channels of the elementaryhoppers 2A, 2B and 2C, detect a missing cigarette or a faulty orinsufficinet filling of one or more cigarettes, their correspondingcontacts are closed.

As such contacts are closed, and when the contact T4 is also closed bythe cyclic cam C2, the remotecontrolled relay R is energized.

As a consequence of the energization of relay R, its movable backcontact R-l, inserted in the energizing circuit of realy R1 forpresetting the circuit in its operative condition, is opened, thusde-energizing this realy R1 and opening its contacts Rl-l and R1-2. Theopening of contact R1-2 is attended by the de-energization of theholding or self-energizing circuit of said relay R1,

and the opening of contacts Rl-l disconnects the source of current fromthe windingsor relays TLl and TL2 controlling the energization of themotor M.

Thus, the motor M and therefore also the machine are stopped. Thisstoppage, especially in the case of a high-speed packaging machine, willtake place, due to the considerable inertia, with a certain time lag,the value of which depends on the presence or absence of a brake.

For this reason, i.e. the unavoidable delay and therefore the number ofcycles elapsing from the time supply of the energizing current tothe-motor M at which it is discontinued, to the actual stoppage of themachine, the three sets of feelers are positioned at a higher level, forexample, in the case illustrated, from 5 to 7 layers above the plane ofdelivery of the same cigarette layers.

Thereby the layers, the deficiencies of which were detected by thesensitive devices are prevented from being transferred, during theabove-defined time period, into the containers 6, thus providing time,so that effective steps may be taken for derouting the defficientcigarettes from the elementary hoppers.

The de-energization of motor M, as a consequence of the closing of oneor a plurality of contacts in the group of parallel-connected members8A,8B and 8C, is irreversible.

Because of the delayed stoppage of the motor M the sensors may detectalready during the next cycle, during their stroke a perfectly regularsupply flow and will open all the contacts of the three sets 8A,8B and8C. This opening is caused by the de-energization of relay R andtherefore by the closing of its movable contact arm R-l; however, relayR1 remains de-energized, its main energizing circuit being adapted to bere-closed through the normally open starting pushbutton Pl, theself-energizing circuit of this relay being still open.

Under these conditions, even if the defects which caused the opening ofthe movable contact Rl-l of relay R1 for presetting the operation of thecomplete circuit are removed the motor M cannot start again.

Only when, in accordance with the information received from the sensorthe continuity of the feed flow to the stations delivering the cigarettelayers was restored manually through adequate control action, thepackaging machine can be re-started by depressing the startingpush-button Pl. Of course, many modifications and variations may be madeto the embodiment disclosed hereinabove without departing from the basicprinciples of the invention by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention, which is to be comprehendedwithin the meaning of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for the formation of orderly groups of cigarettesconstituted of orderly superposed layers of cigarettes comprising incombination:

means for dispensing the layers of cigarettes;

a plurality of individual stations for receiving the respective layers;

container means for receiving said groups of cigarettes;

a plurality of pusher means, each of said pusher means for pushing alayer of cigarettes at a time into said container means;

conveyor means for intermittently displacing said container means in anoperative direction past said stations;

each of said stations includes means defining a supporting surface forthe cigarettes, said supporting surfaces being arranged in consecutiveorder in said operative direction along said-conveyor menas laterallyoffset thereto, said supporting surfaces being arranged at differentlevels with respect to each other increasing in said consecutive order,the level difference between next among said supporting surfacescorresponding at least to the said of a cigarette, and wherein saidrespective pusher means are arranged at a level corresponding to thelevel of said supporting surfaces and adopted to sweep the respective ofsaid supporting surfaces to transfer the layer of cigarettes collectedon said supporting surface onto a corresponding of said container means,said container means having open sides to receive sideways therespective layer of cigarettes transferred from the respective of saidsupporting surface, said container means having a botton arranged onsaid conveyor means at a level corresponding to the lowermost level ofsaid supporting surfaces;

motor means for operating said machine;

a device positioned adjacent said conveyor means for controlling therate of flow of the respective layers of cigarettes dispensed from saiddispensing means to said respective stations;

said device including a plurality of feeler members mountedsubstantially opposed to said respective pusher means;

said feeler members being electrically connected in parallel to oneanother and registering with said respective pusher means; and

relay means responsive to said feeler members and adapted to controlenergizing circuit means of the relay means for controlling theoperation of said motor means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for dispensing therespective layers of cigarettes to said stations comprise a main supplyhopper having a plurality of partitions in its lower portion thereofextending vertically downwardly to form a plurality of channels, saidplurality of channels being equal in number to said distinct layers ofcigarettes.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said feeler members aredisposed at a certain level in relation to the planes of said respectivestations, said level corresponding to a height of five to seven timesthat of a single layer.

1. A machine for the formation of orderly groups of cigarettesconstituted of orderly superposed layers of cigarettes comprising incombination: means for dispensing the layers of cigarettes; a pluralityof individual stations for receiving the respective layers; containermeans for receiving said groups of cigarettes; a plurality of pushermeans, each of said pusher means for pushing a layer of cigarettes at atime into said container means; conveyor means for intermittentlydisplacing said container means in an operative direction past saidstations; each of said stations includes means defining a supportingsurface for the cigarettes, said supporting surfaces being arranged inconsecutive order in said operative direction along said conveyor menaslaterally offset thereto, said supporting surfaces being arranged atdifferent levels with respect to each other increasing in saidconsecutive order, the level difference between next among saidsupporting surfaces corresponding at least to the said of a cigarette,and wherein said respective pusher means are arranged at a levelcorresponding to the level of said supporting surfaces and adopted tosweep the respective of said supporting surfaces to transfer the layerof cigarettes collected on said supporting surface onto a correspondingof said container means, said container means having open sides toreceive sideways the respective layer of cigarettes transferred from therespective of said supporting surface, said container means having abotton arranged on said conveyor means at a level corresponding to thelowermost level of said supporting surfaces; motor means for operatingsaid machine; a device positioned adjacent said conveyor means forcontrolling the rate of flow of the respective layers of cigarettesdispensed from said dispensing means to said respective stations; saiddevice including a plurality of feeler members mounted substantiallyopposed to said respective pusher means; said feeler members beingelectrically connected in parallel to one another and registering withsaid respective pusher means; and relay means responsive to said feelermembers and adapted to control energizing circuit means of the relaymeans for controlling the operation of said motor means.
 2. A machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for dispensing the respectivelayers of cigarettes to said stations comprise a main supply hopperhaving a plurality of partitions in its lower portion thereof extendingvertically downwardly to form a plurality of channels, said plurality ofchannels being equal in number to said distinct layers of cigarettes. 3.A machine according to claim 1, wherein said feeler members are disposedat a certain level in relation to the planes of said respectivestations, said level corresponding to a height of five to seven timesthat of a single layer.